My research in experimental nuclear astrophysics explores one of science’s most fundamental questions: How are the elements in the universe created? I study proton- and neutron-induced reactions that drive nucleosynthesis in stellar and explosive environments. Using a multifaceted approach, including neutron activation, β-delayed charged-particle spectroscopy, and charge-exchange reactions, my work at the University of Kentucky Accelerator Laboratory (UKAL), the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), and Florida State University (Fox Lab) provides critical nuclear data to improve models of stellar explosions and the cosmic origin of the elements.